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Archive for October, 2008

Hi Gary:
I’ve been enjoying reading over your Pets and Wildlife blog. Having grown up in the Contra Costa area I am already familiar with your Times work. I thought you might be interested in some upcoming content I will be adding to http://www.savethefrog.com, a Web site created by the Amphibian Ark and The Clorox Company dedicated to increasing awareness of the amphibian extinction crisis.Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Gary:
The city of Martinez approved all resolutions Wednesday night, including the exemption of SEQA. Bids for the creek work open at 11 a.m. today.

The city responded to comments for citizen inclusion in the process with an offer to set up an oversight committee including Worth A Dam, but then discussed it with the attorney and city engineer, who advised that any oversight body could not make decisions, slow any decisions, or influence them in any way. I declined to participate under those conditions.

Supporters of the Martinez beavers were in tears at the meeting’s end, including myself.Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., President & Founder, Worth A Dam

I received the following e-mail from Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., President & Founder of Worth A Dam, the organization formed to help the Martinez beavers.

Gary: There are two pieces on the tonight’s agenda for the Martinez city council. Part I discusses pursuit of a grant to implement the recommendations of the beaver subcommittee.

The more alarming Part II is a plan for emergency bank stabilization. This involves the construction of a wall of sheet pile directly through the beavers’ lodge. The city is claiming that damage from the beavers tunneling has created an emergency situation and that the work qualifies for an exemption from CEQA. They are are budgeting half a million dollars for the project.Read the rest of this entry »